Cal Football: 5 Questions for Utah Beat Writer
Cal tries to end a three-game losing streak when it faces 12th-ranked Utah on road Saturday night.
Cal is 4-3 overall and 1-3 in the Pac-12, while the Utes are 5-1, 3-1.
To learn more about Utah we asked beat writer Kurt Kragthorpe of the Salt Lake Tribune five questions about the Utes:
1. What is the status of Utah quarterback Tyler Huntley, and why has he been so productive this season? If he does not play, who would start against Cal?
Utah coach Kyle Whittingham will say only that no players who were injured Saturday vs. Arizona State are out for the season. Let's go with "questionable" for Huntley, who played through a leg injury for about a quarter and then sat out the fourth quarter vs. ASU.
(Huntley said Monday night he expects to play, but that does not guarantee he will play against Cal.)
Offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig has gone back and forth between junior Drew Lisk and sophomore Jason Shelley as the No. 2 QB this season, so it's not clear who would start in place of Huntley if he can’t play. Shelley started the last five games of the 2018 season when Huntley was sidelined by a broken collarbone. Lisk was No. 2 last week and appeared in the second quarter when Huntley initially was hurt, although Shelley played in the fourth quarter because of his running ability, with Utah protecting a 14-3 lead.
Huntley just has been more patient and more decisive this season, which sounds like a contradiction. But he's more willing to let pass routes develop, before taking off, and then he's been very accurate once he decides to throw it.
2. Utah’s defense has gone into shutdown mode after that shaky defensive performance against USC and its third-string quarterback. What happened since then and who are the defensive stars?
More than anything, the Utes just have done a better job of playing the ball in the air than they did at USC, where they seemingly were in position, only to have Michael Pittman Jr. and other USC receivers repeatedly go and get the ball. Jaylon Johnson is a future NFL cornerback, almost certain to leave Utah after his junior season, and he's been great lately. The pass rush also has a been a huge factor the last two weeks, with Oregon State's Jake Luton and Arizona State's Jayden Daniels running for their lives. Utah end Bradlee Anae had three sacks vs. ASU.
3. Do you think Kyle Whittingham is underrated as a coach? Why or why not?
If people keep saying you're underrated, at some point you're no longer underrated, right? Whittingham has built a contending program in the Pac-12, but he's still only 37-40 against conference opponents, counting the 2018 title game vs. Washington. The biggest asterisk on his 15-year tenure is his inability/unwillingness to hold onto offensive coordinators. That problem appears to be solved, though, with the return of Andy Ludwig, who was the OC in the 13-0 season of 2008. Whittingham, who turns 60 next month, says he's in the last phase of his career, and it's definitely on an upswing.
4. How does this Utah team compare to the Utes’ 2008 team that finished unbeaten and ranked No. 2, and do you think this year’s squad will get to the Rose Bowl?
I seem to be the only person in Utah who doesn't believe USC will lose enough to fall behind Utah in the Pac-12 South, with the Trojans owning the tiebreaker. That's based mostly on my not being convinced Utah will win next week at Washington, meaning USC would have to lose twice.
I would say this Utah team is the best ever, because of more offensive capability than the '08 team. Having said that, considering the program was in the Mountain West then, that was a phenomenal collection of talent, especially on defense. From that roster, 16 players eventually were drafted and/or had extended NFL careers.
5. What does Utah do best on offense, and who are the offensive standouts besides Huntley?
Running the ball is the Utes' strength, although not in the traditional sense of just lining up and plowing straight ahead. Ludwig has done a good job of designing the running game, using receivers on sweeps and other clever plays, beyond just handing it to Zack Moss up the middle. There's no go-to receiver in the passing game; I noted recently that Utah's team leader in 2019 may have fewer than 30 receptions for the season; that hasn't happened since 1990. The irony is Utah's passing game is the best it has been in a decade, thanks to the receivers/tight ends collectively.
